Locations and Appointments
ColumbiaDoctors - 1 Broadway
ColumbiaDoctors - 15 North Broadway
ColumbiaDoctors - 100 Port Washington Boulevard
CUIMC/Herbert Irving Pavilion
Second Opinion
Insurances Accepted
Before your appointment, please contact the doctor's office or your insurance provider to verify that your insurance is accepted. This list of insurances can change, and the insurance plans listed may not be accepted at all office locations for this provider.
About Robert J. Sommer, MD
Robert J. Sommer, MD, is an accomplished medical professional and Associate Professor of Medicine at Columbia University Irving Medical Center. He currently serves as the Director of Invasive Adult Congenital Heart Disease at Columbia's Interventional Cardiovascular Care program, based in Columbia University Irving Medical Center/NewYork-Presbyterian.Dr. Sommer's expertise lies in the areas of pediatric cardiology, adult congenital heart disease, and interventional cardiology. He is Board-certified in both Pediatric and Adult Congenital Heart Disease. He completed his training in pediatrics and pediatric cardiology at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and Boston Children's Hospital in Boston. CLINICAL WORKIn 1991, Dr. Sommer made significant contributions to the field by establishing the first comprehensive pediatric interventional catheterization laboratory in New York City. In 1999, he launched his own practice and redirected his focus towards the growing population of adult patients with congenital heart disease. Dr. Sommer's joined the faculty at Columbia University Irving Medical Center in 2005.Dr. Sommer has expertise in a diverse range of congenital and structural heart interventions. Dr. Sommer directs the Left Atrial Appendage Closure Team at Columbia, having participated in the PREVAIL Trial, the CAP2 registry, and the CHAMPION-AF Trials using the Watchman Device, as well as the Amulet Device Pivotal and Conformal Device Feasibility Trial. In addition to diagnostic catheterizations in complex congenital heart disease, he performs over 200 atrial septal defect and patent foramen ovale (PFO) closures and over 100 left atrial appendage closures annually. He has decades of experience in closing patent ductus arteriosus and ventricular septal defects, as well as, stenting coarctation of the aorta. Currently, Dr. Sommer serves as the national cardiology principal investigator for the GORE RELIEF clinical study to evaluate patent foramen ovale (PFO) closure for migraine headache relief using a device called the GORE CARDIOFORM Septal Occlude.Dr. Sommer collaborates closely with his Pediatric Cardiology colleagues at Columbia performing transcatheter pulmonary valve replacements in the congenital population. Together, with Barbara Robbins, NP, he provides primary cardiac care to a population of more than 300 pediatric and adult patients with congenital heart disease. Jointly, they manage more than 1500 office visits annually.
Board Certifications
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease
- Pediatric Cardiology
- Pediatrics
Specialties & Expertise
- Adult Congenital Heart Disease (ACHD)
- Atrial Fibrillation
- Atrial Septal Defect
- Complex Congenital Heart Disease
- Congenital Abnormalities
- Patent Foramen Ovale (PFO)
- Structural Heart Disease
- Tetralogy of Fallot
- Valve Replacement
- Valvular Heart Disease
- Ventricular Septal Defect
Education
- Fellowship: Mount Sinai Hospital
- Residency: Mount Sinai Hospital
- Fellowship: Boston Children's Hospital
Leadership, Titles & Positions
- Associate Professor of Medicine at CUMC
- Director, Invasive Adult Congenital Heart Disease
Hospital Affiliations
- NewYork-Presbyterian / Columbia University Irving Medical Center
- NewYork-Presbyterian Westchester
Awards & Honors
- Best Doctors in America (Castle Connelly) 2006-16
- Best Doctors in New York (Castle Connelly NY Magazine) 2001-4, 2006-8, 2011
- Best Doctors New York Metro Area (Castle Connelly) 2005-16
- Compassionate Doctor Award (Castle Connelly) 2013-15
- New York Family Magazine Top Pediatrician 2008
- Patients Choice Award (Castle Connelly) 2010-16
- Rotary Club/Gift of Life International Humanitarian Award 2008
- SCARC Guardianship Services Distinguished Services Award for Exceptional and Compassionate Care 2008